Interview with Bradman Weerakoon
Deshamanya Bradman Weerakoon, who turned 80 recently, is an elder statesman in Sri Lanka and one of the oldest living civil servants in the country. During over half a century of public…
Religion and faith
Response to S. L. Gunasekara’s article titled ‘Cardinal Errors’
‘Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matter’ -Â Dr Martin Luther King I feel compelled to defend the blasphemy committed through the article titled ‘Cardinal Errors’…
The Jaffna priest and the policeman who turned IGP
“I am speaking from the sacred Keeramalai Naguleswaram temple, home of Lord Naguleswarar and goddess Nagulumpika. I thank you for asking me to talk about the temple. Earlier, Mahinda Balasuriya, he was…
Prospects For Post Conflict Reconciliation And Development In Sri Lanka: Can Singapore Be Used As A Model?
Introductory Remarks and Acknowledgements Before turning to the question the title of this “conversation” poses, I want to express my appreciation for the privilege it is to be living in Singapore, and…
Superstitions in the 21st century: Of black pottu, politicians and punools
In the black and white photographs of my childhood, my sisters and I look pretty smart, standing to attention under the spreading mango tree which Rajaratnam Uncle took every year to record…
The Priority Vesak Thought for Action: “Care and Compassion for the Most Needyâ€
In a pre-Vesak address the Prime Minister and Minister of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs made known his priority to lead Buddhists on a path, through awareness, to enhance their commitment to develop…
The Agnostics vs. The Believers regarding karma, reincarnation, nirvana as described in Buddhism being real aspects of this world
One of the challenges put forth by The Agnostics camp (myself, SomewhatDisgusted, BalangodaMan, with help from Heshan) to The Believers (Yapa, Wijayapala, Off The Cuff, etc.) in the 1000+ comments discussion/debate that’s…
Akon and Buddhism in Sri Lanka: A Response to Bhikkhu K. Tanchangya
[] I wrote “Akon and Buddhism in Sri Lanka” exclusively for Groundviews, a prominent citizen journalism website in Sri Lanka. I expressed my opinion on the “Akon issue” as a citizen of…
Akon and Buddhism in Sri Lanka
The Government on Tuesday (March 23rd) announced its decision to deny an entry visa to singer Akon who was scheduled to perform next month in Colombo with co-singers, J-Sean and Kelly. The…
Jumma: The last bastion of the boys
The other day I was chatting to my dad and told him that sometime in the future I would like to give a Jumma sermon. He shook his head sadly and told…
Renunciation
We turned out of bed saddened and furious when we heard Taliban detonated the Bamiyan Buddhas: What savagery, to destroy testaments aged over centuries, to a now effaced history; but today let…
Aroused by Akon’s Sexy Bitch: the Rise of Sinhala-Buddhist Fundamentalism?
Could it be that the sight of the Buddha statue was a complete turn-off to those who were utterly aroused by the dancing girls, the ‘sexy chicks’, seen in the music video…
Living Secular in the ‘Sinhala Buddhist Republic’ of Sri Lanka
Two years ago, in a moment of panic, I rushed my young daughter to Colombo’s only children’s hospital. To be honest, I don’t normally turn to our overcrowded government hospitals for healthcare….
Interview with Ameena Hussein
Ameena Hussein is one of Sri Lanka’s best known English authors. She is also one half of the Perera Hussein Publishing House, that since 2003 has published some of the best new…
The Buddha Sasana: Sri Lanka’s biggest NGO?
Sometimes words are used so often and so uncritically that they not only lose communicative value but those who utter them and those who hear them no longer know what they mean. …
